Playhouse Patrons

Oxford Playhouse Patrons

Dame Judi Dench

Dame Judi Dench was a member of the repertory companies at the Old Vic, Royal Shakespeare Company and Nottingham Playhouse before she joined the Oxford Playhouse Company in 1964. She performed the role ofIrinainThree Sisters, AnnainThe Twelfth Hour,LikainThe Promise and SiliainThe Rules of the Game.

One of the country’s finest and best loved actors, Dame Judi has starred on the small screen inA Fine RomanceandAs Time goes Byand recently on the big screen asMin the Bond films and in Notes on aScandal, Mrs Henderson Presents, Shakespeare in Love, Chocolatand as Queen Victoria inMrs Brown.

Dame Maggie Smith

Photo: Keith Hamshere

BAFTA award winning actress Dame Maggie Smith has an extensive career both on screen and in theatre.

Dame Maggie Smith began her career at Oxford Playhouse under the direction of Frank Shelley. Whilst with the company she performed inTwelfth Night, Cinderella, Rookery Nook, The Government Inspector, The LetterandThe Magistrate.

Michael Codron

Michael is a leading producer of around one hundred West End shows including My Brilliant Divorce, Blue/Orange and The Importance of Being Ernest. He is also administrator of the Aldwych Theatre.

Michael is a graduate of Worcester College, Oxford and was a Cameron Mackintosh Professor of Contemporary Theatre at Oxford [1993].

Michael Palin

Photo: Basil Pao

Michael Palin is a comedian, actor, writier and television presenter who is probably best known for being one of the members of the comedy groupMonty Pythonand for his travel documentaries.

Upon leaving school, Michael went on to read Modern History at Brasenose College, Oxford. Whilst there, together with Robert Hewison, they wrote and performed comedy material for the University Christmas party. Having seen their performance they were joined by Terry Jones and together they performed in theOxford Revuein 1964.

In 1991 Michael Palin worked as producer and actor in the film American Friends which was based on a real event in the life of his great grandfather, a fellow of St John’s College, Oxford.

Michael recently gave a benefit performance in aid of the Playhouse’s 70th anniversary campaign.

Michele Dotrice

Photo: L.B. Photography

Michele Dotrice is probably best known for her portrayal of Betty in BBC sitcomSome Mothers Do 'Ave 'Emwhich ran from 1973 to 1978.

Michele was married to the late Edward Woodward who was also a Patron of the Playhouse.

Paterson Joseph

Paterson Joseph is one of Britain’s finest actors. He has just played Brutus in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production ofJulius Caesarin Stratford, New York and on the BBC, and has appeared regularly at the National Theatre in plays such asEmperor Jones,The Royal Hunt of the SunandSaint Joan. Paterson is also well known for his regular roles inPeep Show,Law and Order,CasualtyandGreen Wing. He has worked on three collaborations with director Danny Boyle, including appearing inThe Beachalongside Leonardo DiCaprio.

Paterson worked with Oxford Playhouse in 2011 onSancho – An Act of Rememberance, his first play, which he performed to great audience and critical acclaim in the Burton Taylor Studio.

Rowan Atkinson

Photo: Trevor Leighton 2001

Upon graduating from Newcastle University Rowan continued with an M.Sc at Queen’s College, Oxford. Whilst studying at Oxford Rowan also acted and performed early sketches for the Oxford University Drama Society (OUDS), the Oxford Revue and the Experimental Theatre Club.

Rowan has starred in TV shows such asNot the Nine O’Clock News, Black AdderandMr Bean. More recently Rowan has been performing the role ofFaginin the West End revival ofOliver!

Samuel West

Photo: John Carey

Samuel West recently became a patron of Oxford Playhouse.

Sam studied English Literature at Lady Margaret Hall, University of Oxford and in 1996 played Hal in Henry IV Part 1 and Part II on the Playhouse stage along side his father Timothy West.

As well as being an actor Samuel has also forged a career as a theatre director and was appointed Artistic Director of Sheffield Theatres in 2005. Since leaving the post, Samuel has been directing and acting, most recently appearing in Enron at Chichester Festival Theatre, which is now playing at the Royal Court. The production transfers to the Noel Coward Theatre in the West End in January 2010..

Samuel, together with Timothy and mother Prunella Scales, performed a benefit performance at the Playhouse in July 2009 entitledA Family Affair.

Sinead Cusack

Irish born actress Sinead Cusack first took to the stage at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin. In 1975 she moved to London and joined the Royal Shakespeare Company.

One of Sinead’s best known stage roles was playingMai O’HarainOur Lady of Sligo[1998] for Out of Joint in Ireland, on Broadway, at the National Theatre and at Oxford Playhouse.

In 2004 Sinead, together with her Husband Jeremy Irons performed two readings of Mirad, aBoy from Bosniaby Ad de Bont in aid of the British Red Cross and the Bosnia Aid Committee for Oxford.

Stewart Lee

Born in Shropshire in 1968,Stewart Leebegan writing and performing stand-up at the age of 20. In 1990 he won the Hackney Empire New Act Of The Year award and for the next five years he contributed to various BBC Radio comedy shows, includingFist of FunandOn The Hour, with Steve Coogan and Chris Morris. Stewart's subsequent three stand-up tours consolidated his live audience and critical standing. This contributed to BBC2's decision to commission his 2009 series,Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle; the second series of which won a BAFTA and two British Comedy Awards. In 2001 he was invited to help write the libretto of, and direct,Jerry Springer The Opera, at Battersea Arts Centre. The show won four Olivier awards after its National Theatre run. In June 2012 Lee was placed at number 9 in the Top 100 Most Influential People in UK Comedy.

Gugu Mbatha-Raw

Gugu Mbatha-Raw was brought up in the town of Witney, Oxfordshire. She joined the local acting group Dramascope and, from the age of eleven, appeared in the pantomime at Oxford Playhouse every year. A talented singer and dancer as well as playing the saxophone, she joined the Oxford Youth Music Theatre in her teens.

Gugu has starred in both theatre and films such as: Hamlet, in London's West End and on Broadway opposite Jude Law. Romeo and Juliet at Manchester's Royal Exchange Theatre, where she was nominated for best actress in the ‘Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards’ for her portrayal of Juliet Capulet, opposite Andrew Garfield. In 2013 she starred in Bellewith Emma Watson and Tom Felton. She also starred in the romantic drama Beyond the Lights (2014) and was nominated for a Gotham Award for Best Actress for her performance.

Gugu Mbatha-Raw was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) by Queen Elizabeth II in the 2017 Birthday Honours for her services to drama.

She recently gave a performance at Oxford Playhouse’s 80th Anniversary Gala and we are delighted to have her as a patron.